The Delta Statementhttps://deltastatement.com
The student news site of Delta State UniversityWed, 03 May 2017 15:47:34 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.1The Rumor Millhttps://deltastatement.com/3877/stories/features/gonzo/the-rumor-mill/
https://deltastatement.com/3877/stories/features/gonzo/the-rumor-mill/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 15:46:13 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3877“Did you hear about what happened to her?” “No, what?” “She missed a lot of classes ‘cuz she got pregnant.” “You’re jokin’!” “I bet her ‘rents wished it was a joke.” But, the whole idea behind this rumor was meant in simple passing—a joke in of itself because she’d never do it in the first […]

But, the whole idea behind this rumor was meant in simple passing—a joke in of itself because she’d never do it in the first place. She’d never sleep with anyone without at least using protection first. That was the whole point of it. It wasn’t meant to mean anything other than a good laugh amongst friends.

That’s how easy it is to spread a rumor—to weave lies into what could be barely considered truth to begin with. Everyone’s started a rumor or was the beginning of one long gossip chain before in their life—I was a part of this one. I won’t lie and say that she didn’t deserve the crap she got from it.

I’m from a small town—surrounded by nothing but people who just love to gossip and digging their noses in everyone else’s business. It’s practically a part of our damn genes to talk about everyone and their damn mother. I don’t even know who to blame for that other than the fact it’s pretty boring being raised up in a tiny town—though, our town isn’t as small as, say, Charleston, MS. The fact that we have to drive almost two hours just to go watch a movie or go shopping is pretty ridiculous, and hardly anyone has time for that.

You have to make plans for that because as soon as anyone finds out you’re going to Jackson, you best believe they’re gonna wanna go, too.

“When’re you going?”

“Can we go this Friday?”

“We can go to that new store in Renaissance!”

“No, let’s just go to the movies.”

Yeah. Kinda why people want to gossip or spread rumors they believe as fact. Maybe it’s because we’re naturally curious about everyone else and what they’re doing right this minute that we stick our thumbs in everyone’s pies. Or that we have to hear or see what’s going on just for entertainment purposes only. Yet, there’s still more to rumors and gossip than just the people who’re a part of the rumor mill and simply spreading what they heard. No, what’s worse than that is being the one who started the whole thing in the first place.

“Hey, Taylor, you know Stacy, right?” Kat asks, already proud of her plan and the lie she’s made up for why Stacy went to the nurse’s office this morning.

Taylor, curious, immediately turns her head away from the other conversation she’s having with her boyfriend and walks over. “Yeah, why?”

“She went to the nurse’s office this morning because she hasn’t eaten anything in four days.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Wants to get skinnier for her prom dress so she’s starving herself—I heard she might have an eating disorder.”

Taylor raises an eyebrow—Stacy wasn’t even 175 lbs. dripping wet, but maybe she thought she could lose some more weight?

“She told me herself—I was there with her when she went to the infirmary.”

I’m more than positive everyone reading this bit of dialogue thinks this is a little out there, but it can happen—it probably already has happened and you didn’t even know it. Rumors can be anything and sometimes it’s hard to discern what’s fact and what’s not. Stacy probably did go to the infirmary because she felt dizzy for whatever reason, but it wasn’t because she was starving herself. Kat said those things just because it would bring a little spice to the whole situation, but now Stacy’s reputation and her mental state will be called into question by the other students and, possibly, the faculty.

I bring up this example because people, in general, can be crueler than anyone may realize. Especially, teenagers. What does it matter, right? It was all one big joke—haha! Good one! Yeah, no. When it comes to someone’s reputation, that’s line no one should ever cross, but yet we still do it anyway because screw the consequences. Need I mention 13 Reasons Why and Hannah Baker?

There’s a reason why most people will say small towns are the worst to live in. Why kids who grow up into young adults want to move away to a big city where not everyone’s second cousins and grandparents know what they’re doing 24/7. Why small town college students live so far away from home. They want to get away from the societal backlash and the pressure of being watched by not only their family but the rest of the town as well. Can’t say I blame them—I have often grown tired of living in a small town myself. I want to be away from the rumor mill. Especially since I’ve been a part of a terrible eruption.

Remember that little piece of dialogue in the beginning? Yeah, I started that. All of it. Granted, it was only meant as a joke and to my group of friends, but someone overheard us. Suddenly, I was a part of something much bigger than a simple joke. A joke that I felt was possible but not completely probable because I’d expect her to be little smarter than that. I told myself that I wasn’t like the other girls who’d start rumors just for the sake of starting a rumor—that she’d deserved it because I didn’t really start it in the first place, someone else did and, therefore, it wasn’t my fault.

What a load of crap.

It doesn’t matter if it was overheard or I directly said it—I wasn’t owning up to something I had said. As a matter of fact, I refused to because this girl was getting a lot of attention that wasn’t really warranted. She was the butt end of a joke for months until the rumor eventually died down. I never told her and I probably won’t now, but that’s my own fault for not owning up to it at the time. There’s still a part of me that’s a bit remorseful and another part of me that thinks she ultimately deserved it.

]]>https://deltastatement.com/3877/stories/features/gonzo/the-rumor-mill/feed/0The Social Work and Music Program Mashuphttps://deltastatement.com/3875/stories/news/social-work-music-program-mashup/
https://deltastatement.com/3875/stories/news/social-work-music-program-mashup/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 15:43:04 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3875The Mississippi public school system has taken some hard hits to the budget in recent years, and this effects Delta State University because it is a public institution. Some of these budget cuts have led to some tough decisions that had to be made by the institution’s leaders. There have been some murmurs about some […]

]]>The Mississippi public school system has taken some hard hits to the budget in recent years, and this effects Delta State University because it is a public institution. Some of these budget cuts have led to some tough decisions that had to be made by the institution’s leaders. There have been some murmurs about some location issues with the social work program, and though some could believe this could involve the lack of a budget, there are other factors causing the ruckus.

Ziegel Hall is home to part of Delta State’s music program, but it recently has been overcome by asbestos. The building renovations have left the music department to find a temporary place to study. While the bottom half of Bailey Hall has also been a home to the music program, the upper part of the building is where Delta State’s highly accredited social work program resides. Since Ziegel Hall’s bad luck, social work staff and Delta State’s vice president of academic affairs, Charles McAdams, have met to discuss social work program moving to another building.

According to sources that wish to remain anonymous, Delta State is not making the move optional. The social work program must move to another location on campus, opening up the upper half of Bailey to the music program while Ziegel is being renovated. This is meant to be a temporary move; however, some students have their doubts.

“I’m just afraid, according to Delta State’s track record, that they will just kind of forget about them, and let the program die away,” said Brittany Smart, a social work major here at DSU. “But both the music program and the social work program need to be accommodated and protected.”

The school has offered two other building options to the social work program for the temporary change, but neither option meets the requirements needed to keep the social work program here at Delta State accredited.

The unfortunate occurrences at Ziegel Hall caused stress on both the social work and music program here at Delta State, but the school leaders are doing the best they can to smooth out the issues. With the punches to the budget, it is understandable how it can worry students and staff in the different programs about whether they will be protected in their areas of study, but the social work and music program mix up is just a bit of a building issue. The social work program is safe and will surely be back up and running at their best as soon as Delta State gets the renovation done, and everyone can go back to their normal spaces.

]]>https://deltastatement.com/3875/stories/news/social-work-music-program-mashup/feed/0Mississippi’s Education Vacuumhttps://deltastatement.com/3872/stories/news/mississippis-education-vacuum/
https://deltastatement.com/3872/stories/news/mississippis-education-vacuum/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 15:41:26 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3872The Freedom Project is an afterschool and summer program that helps underprivileged students in the Mississippi Delta. They have outposts in Meridian, Rosedale, and Sunflower County. Tutors work with students of all ages to provide fun and innovative ways of learning different school subjects. The program also offers electives such as theatre, film making, and […]

]]>The Freedom Project is an afterschool and summer program that helps underprivileged students in the Mississippi Delta. They have outposts in Meridian, Rosedale, and Sunflower County. Tutors work with students of all ages to provide fun and innovative ways of learning different school subjects. The program also offers electives such as theatre, film making, and poetry.

Jeremiah Smith, the director of the Rosedale Freedom Project, witnesses the downfalls of the Mississippi education system every day. “Some of these kids don’t even have quality teachers. Our students that we tutor use virtual Spanish teachers in place of a real teacher, eat lunch in classrooms because they don’t have a cafeteria, and don’t even have a gym.”

A few weeks ago, the state of Mississippi announced a new budget plan that includes spending less on public education, limiting transportation funds, and increasing tuition for higher education institutions.

In fact, the education budget will see a $40 million decrease within the next year. U.S. News reports that “Mississippi needs to spend $2.43 billion next year to provide a mid-level education to its public schools, leaving schools $233 million short.”

However, budget cuts are not a new phenomenon in Mississippi. Just in the past fiscal year, Gov. Phil Bryant has implemented four budget cuts and in the past eight years Mississippi schools have been underfunded by more than a billion dollars. These cuts further limit resources, adequate teachers, and programs that other states have in effect.

“By finding creative ways for the students to learn, we hope to go against the status quo of Mississippi education to create an environment where students actually want to learn and better themselves. Our job is to make sure that they have the education they need and are ready to go out into the real world,” Smith said.

There is a distinct correlation between the lack of funding in education and the performance. In a national rating report conducted by Education Week’s Quality Count, Mississippi ranks 50th among states in education. On the other hand, the National Assessment of Educational Progress ranks Mississippi last in the nation for academic achievement.

Numerous school districts around the state have performed so poorly that they are in constant danger of losing accreditation. The Clarion Ledger reports, “More than 60,000 students in Mississippi attend school in a failing district.” Since 1996, Mississippi has taken over 15 school districts, but there has been no evidence that suggests the takeovers are effective.

Nevertheless, Mississippi legislators have been trying to solve the state’s education issues for decades now. In 1997, the state implemented the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP).

The MAEP formula provides a base cost that schools must match to provide an adequate education. 27% of the costs must be raised by the school district and the state funds the difference based off of criteria such as attendance. However, the MAEP formula has only been followed twice in the 20 years since its creation.

The state’s lack of wealth also has a major impact on the discrepancies between districts of high incomes and districts of low incomes. Mississippi ranks 40th in the nation on how evenly money is spread throughout its education system.

Though Mississippi maintains the national average on how much is spent on education though taxes, 3.6 percent, schools are still underfunded because of Mississippi’s subpar income levels. This results in better funding and schooling for districts of higher wealth and a blatant disregard for education in impoverished communities.

Mississippi’s education system can still be saved with a reimagined education plan and an emphasis on smarter tax expenditures. It also wouldn’t hurt to provide incentives for more companies to move into Mississippi to help jumpstart the economy.

With cut to the budget, programs like the Freedom Project may be underfunded, but Smith has hopes for the program, “I think we’ll be just fine. We have a lot of people that truly support what we do. As long as we can get the support we need, we’ll keep educating the youth. They need us now more than ever,” Smith said.

]]>https://deltastatement.com/3872/stories/news/mississippis-education-vacuum/feed/0The Disorganized Award Goes to…https://deltastatement.com/3869/stories/features/gonzo/disorganized-award-goes/
https://deltastatement.com/3869/stories/features/gonzo/disorganized-award-goes/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 15:38:21 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3869I sat at my desk and stared at the stack of books spread across it. There were papers everywhere, crammed between books, torn and ripped, and even all over the floor. I was searching for a paper that was due the next day, panicking, because it was lost amongst the tempest of work. *ring, […]

]]>I sat at my desk and stared at the stack of books spread across it. There were papers everywhere, crammed between books, torn and ripped, and even all over the floor. I was searching for a paper that was due the next day, panicking, because it was lost amongst the tempest of work.

*ring, ring*

The alarm on my phone shrilled, telling me to dress myself for the scholarship event. I tried to tell it to leave me alone, but every time I pressed that button to shut up, ten minutes later it yelled at me again. So reluctantly, I put on some clothes.

Kay picked me up, and we showed up at Jobe Hall five minutes prior to start time, that is, according to the paper; but Lord knows we weren’t going to start on time. And we didn’t.

We sat in the stadium style seats by factions—educational factions—looking down into the stage, lit by sun it almost seemed, and empty chairs sat across it. My eyes scanned the room, and I pinned two of my professors sitting on the other side.

“Kay, look, there they are!” I was excited, because, well they were the teachers in my list of top ten favorites of all time. Let’s be honest, every student has one of those. I’d be willing to bet all five of the pennies in my pocket that teachers have one of those for students too, even though they might not admit it.

Kay looked back at me and grinned. We possess similar lists. However, although admiring our list proved entertaining for a moment, after a long delay, the impatience in me rose. I shook my restless leg up and down, up and down.

“TBH, the snack table in the foyer is calling my name. I can’t sit here much longer.”

“Right behind you.” Kay laughed.

“I wonder what world crisis has caused them such a delay.” My sarcasm was unruly, but timely, as the words left my mouth, a caravan of prestigious looking people walked in a straight line and sat down in the chairs on the stage. One of those prestigious looking people was our [Lang and Lit] department chair. That dude was about to give me some money, so I was certainly happy to see him, but I still kept thinking about the snacks.

“You know there were brownies in there.”

“Brownies are my favorite.”

“Well you know what my favorite is? My favorite is for them to hurry this mess up.”

A man came up to the podium at center stage, and in a loud voice he announced: “We do not have a microphone for today’s ceremony, so I am just going to speak loudly. Can everyone in the back hear me? Raise your hand if you can’t hear me.” There was a polite giggle, even though that one is as old as dinosaurs.

“He missed the microphone part, but he sure has a snazzy tie on.” I complimented the man who was wearing his glasses at the tip of his nose, so much so that I thought if leaned forward at any degree of angle, they would fall to the floor and shatter. “I wonder if his glasses actually are useful to him when they are barely on his face.”

“They probably are there to add to his prestige.” Kay smirked in a whisper.

The man began to go through each department, calling out names as each Chair stood to hand scholarships to students. On multiple occasions, the man came to the end of his list, while students stood presuming to receive something. This laid out a rather awkward moment of conversation between the calling man and the Chairs, as the Chairs had to pick up the slack and finish the names off. There was one set of students, though, who went down to receive a scholarship, and neither the calling man nor the Chair had anything to offer them. So, they melted back behind the curtain awkwardly, with their tails tucked between their legs in embarrassment.

I shaped my voice to sound like a TV commentator and quietly said to Kay, “And the most-awkward-and-disorganized-ceremony-of-the-year award goes to Mississippi’s very own, Delta State University.”

She simultaneously laughed and rolled her eyes. I was pleased with that and nodded in agreement.

Eventually, they summoned the Lang and Lit Department to stand, and it seemed like half the stadium stood up. I felt pride rise in my chest, as the other departments turned to look at the outrageous number of outstanding students we have. I lifted my chin a little. Oh yeah, our department could beat up your department, suckers. It was a glorious moment as we marched down the steps to the stage front. I felt like a proud mom. I wondered if my favorite teachers on the other side of the room did, too. I also wondered if any of the other departments had any teachers that showed up to support them like ours. My pride told me ‘probably not.’

They called our names one by one, we received our scholarships. We took a photo and then we were done. The hard stuff was over, and snack time rolled around. My favorite time. The snacks were as prestigious as the tie that calling man had on. There were fancy rolls ups, spinach and artichoke dip, crackers and cheeses, fruit trays, and vegetable plates, and even the brownies looked fancier than normal brownies. I ate my share of it.

The two teachers that were on my list came and spoke to me. That made me happy, but I tried not to show them, because I did not want to be unprofessional.

“Congratulations on your scholarship.” One of them smiled.

Oh my gosh, Hi! Thank you so much for coming! Thank you so much! I saw you when I walked in but I was too nervous to say hello, and I am glad you are here! That means so much to me. Did you know you are one of my favorite teachers of all time! Do you want to hang out after this?…

“Thanks so much.” I actually said as I remembered that teachers and students typically aren’t BFF’s. She smiled, and then left.

Eventually I left too, and went back to my apartment. I walked through the door, only to find what I had forgotten. I had papers to write. A lot of papers to write. I looked down at my desk at the mess, and I changed my voice to sound like a TV commentator and said, “And the real most-disorganized-award of the year goes to…”

]]>https://deltastatement.com/3869/stories/features/gonzo/disorganized-award-goes/feed/0Figures in the Dark or a Trick of the Mind?https://deltastatement.com/3867/stories/features/figures-dark-trick-mind/
https://deltastatement.com/3867/stories/features/figures-dark-trick-mind/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 15:36:28 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3867Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night and been unable to move? Along with this sudden paralysis, there is a sense of something leering at you in the pitch darkness of your room—a mysterious, foreboding figure or a pair of crimson eyes glaring at you out the corner of your eye. Fear […]

]]>Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night and been unable to move? Along with this sudden paralysis, there is a sense of something leering at you in the pitch darkness of your room—a mysterious, foreboding figure or a pair of crimson eyes glaring at you out the corner of your eye. Fear and panic takes over, the urge to get up and run away in the opposite direction nearly chokes you, and your body refuses to move. Surely, it’s a figment of your imagination and your body not being able to move is just part of a terrible nightmare.

Wrong.

What you have just experienced is called sleep paralysis. There are different variations of what someone undergoing sleep paralysis may experience, but for the most part, it is when the body is caught between wakefulness and sleep. Researchers of sleep paralysis have discovered that irregular sleep cycle may be a cause of the phenomenon. Other factors of sleep paralysis such are:

Lack of sleep

Sleep schedule that changes

Mental conditions such as stress or bipolar disorder

Sleeping on the back

Other sleep problems such as narcolepsy or nighttime leg cramps

Use of certain medications, such as those for ADHD

Substance abuse

There are also two different ways sleep paralysis can occur: hypnagogic, or predormital sleep paralysis, and hypnopompic, or postdormital sleep paralysis. Hypnagogic is when the body relaxes as a person falls asleep, but he/she wakes up in the middle of this process and is unable to move or speak. Hypnopompic, also causes people to be unable to move or speak, takes place during the REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement) phases of sleep. Sleep paralysis occurs when someone becomes aware while the body is still in the REM stage of the sleep cycle in which their muscles are relaxed.

Sleep paralysis—no matter what science says about it—is a very scary experience and has happened over the course of many centuries. Religious figures have called sleep paralysis as the result of an evil presence from the likes of demons stealing a person’s life force or spirit. Mysterious and invisible beings during ancient times or the works of alien abductions in some cases. There have also been people claiming an old hag, an evil witch-like being, who sits on their chest and cuts off their air so it can suck the energy from them.

No matter the case, science claims that none of these “evil” presences or alien abductions are really happening to us while we’re caught in sleep paralysis. However, what you experience in that moment may as well be real because not being able to move or even scream is terrifying in of itself. Seeing something in the dark leaning over you or watching you while you lie motionless is a nightmare that comes to life.

There is no cure for sleep paralysis other than destressing before going to bed, ensuring you get plenty of sleep, and your sleeping schedule remains constant. It is important to talk to your doctor if sleep paralysis continues to occur and is preventing you from getting enough sleep at night.

]]>https://deltastatement.com/3867/stories/features/figures-dark-trick-mind/feed/0Okra Ain’t Just Fried in the Deltahttps://deltastatement.com/3864/stories/features/okra-aint-just-fried-delta/
https://deltastatement.com/3864/stories/features/okra-aint-just-fried-delta/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 15:34:26 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3864Spring break is a time of grand adventure, a time for the studying states, people to get away from the books, and see something beyond these cotton-covered flat lands. The nursing majors, the elementary ed peeps, the mathematicians, the future engineers and lawyers, and those of us who breathe the air of Kethley Hall 90 […]

]]>Spring break is a time of grand adventure, a time for the studying states, people to get away from the books, and see something beyond these cotton-covered flat lands. The nursing majors, the elementary ed peeps, the mathematicians, the future engineers and lawyers, and those of us who breathe the air of Kethley Hall 90 percent of our lives trying to keep up our everlasting to-do list, need a break.

Many students decided not to stay and get their sun tans in the Delta this spring break. Students traveled far and wide to find the highways and byways of the world. Places like Alaska, Las Vegas, Florida, and Cuba are just a few of the places where “the Okra” made their mark on the world this spring break.

“I can’t stay in Mississippi forever,” one student claimed. So off to Alaska they went, where the mountains of snow buried the dust of Cleveland in their memories for a time. “There were so many cool things there,” they continued, “from the nature and wildlife, to the friendship I found in the midst of the warmth of coffee shops and café restaurants was enough to make me want to leave that Mississippi humidity behind forever.”

The question is, how did students manage to get a spring break sun tan in those snowy Alaska mountains. “You don’t need sun, when you have the northern lights.”

(Man, Okras have some quick-wit and sassiness.)

Vegas was another popular destination for the Okra to soak up some sun. A group of students traveled out to the Nevada desert land, but not for reasons that might be assumed. Apart from climbing the red rock canyons and taking selfies with cactuses, the students found themselves serving the extraordinarily large homeless community found in the lower edges of Vegas. “They’re hungry, too,” said one student, “And I’ll trade my time to help them get through another day.” This much-needed break beckoned some students on to reaching out for hurting communities to make a difference.

The beautiful, burning sand of blue-watered Florida was another destination deemed popular by the traveling Okra. “I haven’t been to a Florida beach since I was a little girl,” reports one student who discussed how the Mississippi beaches just aren’t the same as the Florida waters. Surfing and sunshine was a great combination for a highly anticipated week of rest. Morning shopping trips and sunset strolls on the beach, as well as some crab hunting and star gazing is enough to boost anyone’s educational immune system. “I am ready to get back at it, and knock this last stretch of the semester out. Bring on the books.”

Some of the students decided to follow the ole’ “Go big or go home” philosophy, and stamped their passports on the way to the beautiful Cuban islands. There’s nothing like some international sunshine burning into your Delta conditioned skin. The culture, the food, and the people lit up some students’ worlds. “It was worth every penny,” they claimed. Cuba is a whole new world, compared to the Delta, and it is worth the trip if you have that kind of coin in your pocket.

Many students satisfied their sleepless wanderlust during spring break and have landed safely back in Cleveland for another round of long nights of studying and early morning classes. The traveling was incredible—seeing the world is always worth the packing and saving. It is just good to be home for a big plate of that tasty fried okra.

]]>https://deltastatement.com/3864/stories/features/okra-aint-just-fried-delta/feed/0Nerf War at the Baptist Student Unionhttps://deltastatement.com/3861/stories/features/gonzo/nerf-war-baptist-student-union/
https://deltastatement.com/3861/stories/features/gonzo/nerf-war-baptist-student-union/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 15:32:35 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3861The Nerf Gun War had been the topic of conversation for weeks around the Baptist Student Union, or as we call it, BSU. People that didn’t even own Nerf guns and especially didn’t know how to use them and Nerf War veterans alike were talking about it. There was talk about how to set up […]

]]>The Nerf Gun War had been the topic of conversation for weeks around the Baptist Student Union, or as we call it, BSU. People that didn’t even own Nerf guns and especially didn’t know how to use them and Nerf War veterans alike were talking about it. There was talk about how to set up the building and how to divide up teams. Strategy and talk about what gun was best could be commonly heard in conversations among BSUers as the day of war approached.

Meanwhile, papers were still due and work still had to be done. Couples broke up as well as friendships. New romances were blooming like the tulips on Delta State’s campus. Roommates were fighting and stewing over past hurts, while other friendships were taking root and growing deeper, despite the fact that some would be leaving in May. People are people, as they say (whoever they is) and they still gossip and say things that are a blatant lies, because, in fact, colorful lies make for much better stories around a table of Chic-Fil-A nuggets and waffle fries in the union.

Yet, these same people can give you the biggest smile and say to you, “How are you doing?”

“I can’t believe how nice it is outside today, don’t you think so? I’m so glad it decided to warm back up.”

“Man, I’m so tired. I’ve been studying for the biggest test of my life this semester and I still don’t know anything. I guess I’m just going to wing it. A degree is just a piece of paper anyway, right?”

“Oooooohhhh my gosh! You look so cute today! I love your shirt and oh THOSE shoes are to DIE FOR! You have to tell me where you got them!”

I wish it were just as easy to swallow their empty words as it is to eat those nuggets from CFA.

The Day of War

Finally April 6 rolled around, the Day of War. Caitlen and I were at the BSU every moment we weren’t in class trying to get it ready for that night. We took down chair after chair after chair and tables until I had to report back to class, leaving Caitlen to do the work on her own. It was a Thursday, and Thursdays are always restless. It’s almost the weekend, its’ almost there, but you still have to get up on Friday and force yourself to go to class and work just thinking about those plans you made for the weekend. The atmosphere felt like you’d had one too many Red Bulls after pulling an all-nighter just to finish that paper in one night you should have started weeks ago. The Nerf War only added to that restlessness. I came back to the BSU during my break before my next class and Caitlen had decided that we needed a sign to put on the outside of the building to bring people off the street.

It was Thursday and I still didn’t have a Nerf Gun nor had I ever touched one in my entire life. I didn’t even hear about Nerf Gun Wars until I got to college. Somebody was going to let me borrow a few from their older brother’s arsenal that they had brought from home, which was over two hours away, if I supplied my own bullets. I gladly agreed.

8:30 P.M.

The BSU was beginning to fill up with people ready to divide up into teams and shoot each other with Nerf guns. All the semester’s frustrations had built up and everyone was ready to take them out on each other. The BSU looked like a war zone. There were boxes stacked up taller than me, turned over tables, and Nerf guns and bullets were everywhere. Only two teams were allowed to play at once, which meant there was time for socializing and catching up on the other side of the warzone.

There were all types of people there. People that were ready with their face paint and matching colored clothes. There were people there that didn’t play a single round in the Nerf Gun War. There were people doing homework and people that didn’t sit out on a single round of the war. There were people that were honest and sat out once they had been shot three times, and there were people that never got out even though they had been hit ten times. There are always those people. There were people that talked smack and told everyone, “you’re going downnnnn” and there were people that didn’t say much and just let their Nerf guns do the talking.

As the Nerf War went on, I started to ponder how much time I had spent with many of these people over the past couple years here. I knew the good and bad things about them whether they realized it or not. As people shot Nerf bullets at each other, I realized that there were people here that were here every week, that took literal shots at people they “loved” with their words and actions, that were always meant to hurt much more than a Nerf bullet ever would, and it angered me. I wanted to see them get exactly what I thought they deserved. I wanted to take shots at them because somehow I thought it made sense to treat them exactly like they were treating other people.

And that’s when I realized, that I was a part of that “them,” too. I was one of those people that came to BSU every week. And whether intentionally or unintentionally, I had hurt people too. I had said things I shouldn’t had over CFA nuggets and waffle fries in the Union. Although I was aware these people weren’t perfect, I was reminded that I am in fact not perfect either. And the only thing that made it possible for us to laugh and have a good time at a silly Nerf Gun War in the middle of a stressful semester was the fact that, “…from his fullness we have received grace upon grace.” –John 1:16

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https://deltastatement.com/3858/stories/features/gonzo/cash-cow/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 15:29:50 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3858It is an universally acknowledged truth that a single college student in possession of a limited allowance must be in want of an apartment. The drive to the apartment complex passed in a flurry of chatter between my friend (let’s call her Ally) and me, our flapping mouths masking what was really on our […]

]]>It is an universally acknowledged truth that a single college student in possession of a limited allowance must be in want of an apartment.

The drive to the apartment complex passed in a flurry of chatter between my friend (let’s call her Ally) and me, our flapping mouths masking what was really on our minds. We pulled in the driveway, parked, then walked, quieter, to the office where the landlady had agreed to meet us. She had sounded so amiable on the phone. As I held open the door for Ally to enter first, I almost called her back, dread socking me in the gut. Was I really prepared to do this? Renting an apartment was no small matter, and if anything happened and we couldn’t pay…

But no. We had come here for a purpose. I entered.

“Hey there,” the woman (a Beatrice, no doubt) called from behind the corner desk. “What can I do for you?”

Ally introduced us, and when she heard our names, Beatrice perked up and motioned us closer. “You two are here to tour the apartments, aren’t you? Got a particular one in mind?”

We did. Actually, it was because of our other two friends who were currently staying here but were moving out in two weeks that Ally and I were even considering renting, as we hoped to take their apartment. It was pretty. Besides, renting was so much cheaper than staying on campus, especially for freshmen and sophomores. We wouldn’t have to pay for the ex-pen-sive All Access Meal Plan again, nor dish out as much as for a double dorm room, let alone the private rooms we both currently had. That, and the swell of accomplishment at striking out on one’s (sort of) own, made this seem the perfect solution. College was about taking risks, after all, wasn’t it? That was what all the professors said, anyway.

At the mention of our friends’ apartment, Beatrice leaned back in her chair and studied us with narrowed eyes. I didn’t like that. “Well, now, that’s a nicer one, a 500—not part of the 600’s deal I’m running. It’ll cost more than the price I gave you over the phone.”

The knot in my stomach tightened. “How much more?”

“About $100 a month.”

Ally glanced at me, then back at Beatrice. “Oh.” Her gaze returned to me, and she smiled a little too brightly. “Well, that’s only $50 more each. That’s not too bad.”

“Deposit’s due when you sign.”

I blinked. “When would we have to sign?”

“Eh, your friends are probably moving out in the next week or two, right? Space fills up fast. I can’t guarantee you the place until I have your name on the lease.”

And our money in her hand, no doubt.

This wasn’t going as I had planned. Fingers scrapping against my thighs, I took a breath and asked if we could see both sets of apartments, the 500’s and the 600’s. Beatrice readily agreed and directed us down the lot to where her husband was waiting to show us the apartment next to our friends’ in the more expensive area.

It was a nice place, I admitted to Ally, spacious and clean. I could easily picture my furniture stuffed into one of the bedrooms, my DVD’s piled in the corner of the living room. It looked homey. Next, the man showed us one of the other apartments, which looked only slightly different. A little smaller, a little less fancy. Still, my dorm room with its paint-splattered drawers and fixed thermostat wasn’t looking so good right about now.

Ally and I returned to the office after eyeing the apartment pool for several minutes, and Beatrice flashed another smile when we walked in her door.

“So what’d you think? One of them catch your eye?”

With only a moment’s hesitation, Ally answered in favor of the more expensive apartment, which I had anticipated. Her words, nevertheless, made me shift my feet awkwardly as I calculated how many Gatorades and macaroni boxes I could buy with $50. My budget was already bursting at the seams, even with so-called full scholarships, because of the university’s scholarship cap. With my private room placing my expenses over that cap, I was looking at paying a couple hundred dollars out-of-pocket next semester, but that was for four months—not that much money every month. Even if I did receive a refund check for not staying on campus, I wouldn’t get that money until December or January, so I’d be paying for this apartment with scraps until then. So much for the free ride everyone had promised me in high school.

“We’ll be in touch,” I said with dead cheer as I tugged Ally towards the door. “Thanks for your time.”

And for wasting ours.

In the end, Ally and I didn’t rent that apartment. I talked to so many people about it, trying to make ends meet like pieces from different puzzles, but nothing worked. Renting an apartment was a risk—a wonderful, exciting, terrible risk—that I, like so many other poor college kids, quite literally couldn’t afford.

And the worst part? Part of me was glad. Staying on campus was safe. Secure. Natural. My grades were all the risk I needed. That was what all the other students said, anyway.

Note: The names and dialogues have been slightly altered for privacy’s sake. Also, I like this version better. So there.

]]>https://deltastatement.com/3858/stories/features/gonzo/cash-cow/feed/08 Things You Should Do Before 8amhttps://deltastatement.com/3855/stories/features/8-things-8am/
https://deltastatement.com/3855/stories/features/8-things-8am/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 15:28:15 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3855Everyone is looking for the newest way to improve their lives without having to do much. Here are eight ideas you can do every morning before you leave your house that will impact your whole day. These tips and tricks can improve your health, productivity, and even boost your happiness. Make Your Bed Perhaps […]

]]>Everyone is looking for the newest way to improve their lives without having to do much. Here are eight ideas you can do every morning before you leave your house that will impact your whole day. These tips and tricks can improve your health, productivity, and even boost your happiness.

Make Your Bed

Perhaps the best way to guarantee you get out of bed in the morning is to make your bed first thing. Making your bed not only makes you more likely to not crawl back in it, but it also makes your room look cleaner and more put together. Plus, it is always nice to come home to a freshly made bed after a long day of school or work. Check out what LifeHack.org has to say about making your bed.

Meditate

Meditation is the perfect way to getting your day started right. This can include (but is not limited to): relaxing your mind, praying, or just gathering your thoughts. Meditation also has health benefits. According to PsychologyToday.com, meditation can boost your immune system, make you happier, and many other things.

Drink a Large Glass of Lemon Water

Drinking a glass of lemon water activates your metabolism. This is a great thing to do about 30 minutes before you eat breakfast. This wakes you and your body up. The Huffington Post did an article back in 2014 on just how good lemon water every morning is for you. Plus, who does not like to get their metabolism moving just a bit faster?

Yoga or Stretch

Yoga is a great way to get your body in motion and keep your body active. Even if this is the only form of exercise you do all day, it is still beneficial to your overall health. Harvard Medical School’s Health Publications released an article that explained just how great yoga is for your body. Go find some simple yoga poses that are designed to wake your body up.

Shower

No one wants to smell bad. A great way to refresh your body and get all the dirt from the night off is a simple shower. Some people take their showers at night. If you are one of them then wash your face instead. You need to get the built-up oil from the night before off your face anyway.

Breakfast

The most important meal of the day. You are what you eat, so eat something healthy. A boiled egg and some fruit are a great breakfast. WebMD published an article that stated “Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism, helping you burn calories throughout the day. It also gives you the energy you need to get things done and helps you focus at work or at school.” On top of that, your body has not eaten anything in the last six hours. So, do yourself a favor and eat something!

Plan Your Day

Write out what you have to do today. Write down your class schedule, work schedule, and even when you plan on eating lunch and dinner. If you have an appointment or plan to eat dinner with friends, write it down. This makes you more organized and will help you be on time and do what you need to do every day.

Make One Daily Goal

Some people make weekly goals. That is good and all but, you are more likely to get more accomplished and reach those goals if you break them down into smaller daily goals. You might have a monthly goal of losing 5lbs. Break that down into a daily goal of going to the gym one day or not eating meat on Mondays. Make your long-term goals into something smaller and more accomplishable.

]]>https://deltastatement.com/3855/stories/features/8-things-8am/feed/0bugs, birds, buildingshttps://deltastatement.com/3826/delta-arts/poems/bugs-birds-buildings/
https://deltastatement.com/3826/delta-arts/poems/bugs-birds-buildings/#respondThu, 27 Apr 2017 06:00:40 +0000https://deltastatement.com/?p=3826intricately designed in small places; of one mind whistling different notes; sing the same song set apart; a part of one purpose